DePaul Falls to Butler in Heartbreaking Fashion

Wednesday, February 28

Chicago, Ill.

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

12-18,4-13Big East

Butler

14-14,6-11Big East

Butler

DePaul

Jorie Allen pulls up for jumper in the paint.

DePaul Falls to Butler in Heartbreaking Fashion

2/28/2024 10:08:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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Jorie Allen posts team-high 20 points in the setback

CHICAGO – A three-minute scoring drought came at the wrong time as DePaul was held scoreless for the final stretch of the fourth quarter to allow Butler to claim a 73-70 win on Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena.

DePaul (12-18, 4-13 BIG EAST) had the lead for 30 minutes of the game before the fourth quarter saw six lead changes and three ties in a highly contested league matchup. With the loss, the Blue Demons are now locked into the No. 10 seed in next week's BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena and will play either Georgetown or Seton Hall in a first round game.

Graduate forward Jorie Allen led three Blue Demons in double figures with 20 points, her third outing this season with 20-points, to go with six rebounds.

Katlyn Gilbert totaled a career-best 17 rebounds as DePaul outrebounded Butler 40-32. Gilbert added eight points and three steals in the effort.

On senior night, Anaya Peoples completed her 25th double-digit outing of the season with 11 points in addition to eight boards and five assists. Kate Clarke finished with 15 points, her second-straight double-digit outing.

Maeve McErlane had another impressive outing running the point for the Blue Demons with nine points and nine assists. McErlane has 18 assists over the last two contests.

Butler (14-14 6-11) saw five players finish in double figures led by Caroline Strande and Rachel Kent with 15 points apiece.

How it Happened
The Blue Demons took their first lead, 6-5, off a free throw from Gilbert and kept control during the first half. A 9-0 run over two minutes pushed DePaul ahead, 11-5, Allen had 10 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the field, in the first quarter.

A block from Kate Clarke led to a layup from Gilbert to keep DePaul in front, 23-19. Shakara McCline's first bucket of the night pushed the lead to eight, 36-28 while the Blue Demons held Butler without a field goal for the final two minutes of the half.

Allen led the way with 14 points through the first 20 minutes of play.

Clarke tallied a three pointer to open the second half and extend the lead to 10, 41-31. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run to get within three. Four quick points from People put DePaul back in the lead, but Butler clawed their way back to tie the game, 49-49. A scoreless drought was ended by a shot from McErlane and two completed free throws tied the game at 54 each to end the third.

Peoples opened the final frame with a three-point play to regain the lead, 57-54. Two back-to-back three pointers for Butler had the visitors retake the lead but McErlane responded with one of her own the advantage for DePaul. The Bulldogs tied the game, 68-68, on a layup before Allen responded with her ninth field goal of the night. The Blue Demons had their chances with a pair of possessions to tie or reclaim the lead but couldn't convert as Butler hit three-consecutive free throws to close the game.

Up Next
DePaul will hit the road to take on Villanova for the final game of the regular season on Sunday, March 3. Tipoff from Finneran Pavilion is scheduled for 4 pm CST with coverage on FS1.

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